Dianthus hybrid plant named ‘Fuchsia Fire’

ABSTRACT

A new, distinct Dianthus plant as illustrated and described, characterized by magenta pink flowers on short stems, above mat forming and compact silvered foliage.

Latin name: Dianthus hybrid.

Cultivar name: ‘Fuchsia Fire’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct plant of Dianthus hybrid plant named ‘Fuchsia Fire’ characterized by magenta pink flowers on short stems, above mat forming and compact silvered foliage. The new Dianthus was the result of an intentional cross by the inventors at a nursery, in Hebron, Ill. in 2017. The selection of the new plant was due to its' magenta pink flowers on short stems, above mat forming and compact silvered foliage, compared to the taller stems and mounding foliage of the parent plants. Initial asexual reproduction has taken place at a nursery in Hebron, Ill. since 2018 by means of vegetative tip cuttings. The new Dianthus has shown to be stable and identical in reproduction after rooting over 700 plants from 2018 to 2019.

No plants of the new Dianthus have been sold in this country, or anywhere in the world, prior to the filing of this application, nor has any disclosure of the new plant been made prior to the filing of this application with the exception of that which was disclosed by the inventor and his company, Intrinsic Perennial Gardens, Inc within one year of filing of this application and was derived directly from the inventor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Dianthus hybrid plant named ‘Fuchsia Fire’ characterized by magenta pink flowers on short stems, above mat forming and compact silvered foliage, have been observed to be unique and stable.

Plants of the new Dianthus hybrid plant named ‘Fuchsia Fire’ can be compared to the female or seed parent Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘Firewitch’, not patented. 1. The new Dianthus plant has flower stems measuring 12-15 cm long compared to the stems of ‘Firewitch’ which measure 20 cm or longer. 2. The new Dianthus also has smaller foliage on shorter growing plants reaching only 7 cm tall while ‘Firewitch reaches 15-20 cm tall.

Plants of the new Dianthus can be compared to plants of the male or pollen parent Dianthus ‘Paint the town Fuchsia’ patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,636. 1. The new Dianthus plant has silvered foliage RHS color 147 B while Dianthus ‘Paint the town Fuchsia’ plant has a foliage color 137 B. 2. The new Dianthus plant has flower colors RHS color N74 A while Dianthus ‘Paint the town Fuchsia’ plant has flower colors of N78 A. 3. The new Dianthus plant has a foliage height of 7 cm and flower stems 10-12 cm in length while Dianthus ‘Paint the town Fuchsia’ plant has a foliage height of 12 cm and flower stems 20 cm in length.

Plants of the new Dianthus can be compared to plants of Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘Grandiflorus’ not patented. 1. The new Dianthus plant has flower colors RHS color N74 A while Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘Grandiflorus’ plant has bi-color pink flowers with a darker near red colored eye. 2. The new Dianthus plant has flower stems 10-12 cm in length while Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘Grandiflorus’ plant has flower stems 20 cm in length. 3. The new Dianthus plant has flowers 28 mm in width while Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘Grandiflorus’ plant has flowers nearly 40 mm in width.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

Plants pictured in the drawing were grown for one year.

FIG. 1. Close up of the foliage.

FIG. 2. A picture of many plants blooming together.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (2001). Plants used for the description were grown for one year. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Dianthus hybrid plant named ‘Fuchsia     Fire’. -   Parentage: Female or seed parent Dianthus gratianopolitanus     ‘Firewitch’, male or pollen parent Dianthus ‘Paint the town Fuchsia’     patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,636. -   Propagation: Vegetative tip cutting propagation. -   Plant description: Overall habit of the new Dianthus is mat forming     clumps to 7 cm tall and 40 cm wide, with up to 15 cm stems topped by     magenta pink flowers May through June.     -   -   Plant height.—Average 7 cm.         -   Plant width.—40 cm.         -   Growth habit.—Moderately vigorous. -   Stems: Upright, terete, branching at alternate nodes, around 70 per     plant.     -   -   Stem color.—138 B in spring, summer, and fall.         -   Stem shape.—Both typical and observed — round.         -   Stem texture.—Glabrous, glaucous.         -   Stem length.—3 cm, Stem diameter — 3 mm.         -   Stem branching.—Numerous, typically alternate from lower             leaf axils, about 2-3 per main stem, branch length 5 cm at             the time of flowering.         -   Nodes.—About 3-4 per stem.         -   Internode length.—5 mm.         -   Roots.—Fine, fibrous, color close to 159A. -   Foliage:     -   -   Type.—Simple, linear, opposite, decussate, sessile,             glabrous, glaucous on adaxial and abaxial sides.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.         -   Shape.—Linear.         -   Petiole.—None.         -   Length.—4-5 cm.         -   Width.—2-3 mm.         -   Thickness.—3 mm.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Leaf apex, typical and observed.—Acute.         -   Leaf bases, typical and observed.—Decurrent.         -   Texture.—Glabrous and glaucous.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite, crowded.         -   Leaf venation pattern.—None.         -   Leaf vein color.—None.         -   Adaxial leaf description.—Color is 137 B.         -   Abaxial leaf description.—Color is 147 B.         -   Fall foliage color.—None noticed. -   Flower:     -   -   Type.—Terminal, cymose.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Inflorescence type.—Perfect, single.         -   Inflorescence size.—28 mm across.         -   Flower number.—2 per stem, 140 per plant.         -   Flower longevity.—Five days.         -   Flower fragrance.—Medium, spice like.         -   Bloom period and duration.—Late spring; sporadically to             early fall.         -   Blooming habit.—Solitary on up to 15 cm stems.         -   Petal count.—5.         -   Petal texture.—Glabrous.         -   Petal arrangement.—Rotate.         -   Petal shape.—Obovate.         -   Adaxial petal color.—N74 A.         -   Abaxial petal color.—N74 B.         -   Petal apex shape.—Obovate.         -   Petal bases, typical and observed.—Acute, 20 mm wide.         -   Petal length.—Up to 28 mm, Petal width — 14 mm.         -   Petal margin, typical and observed.—Dentate up to 3 mm deep             a 2 mm wide.         -   Bud length, typical and observed.—2 cm.         -   Bud diameter, typical and observed.—5 cm.         -   Bud color, typical and observed.—N74 A.         -   Sepal size.—2 mm across, 6 mm tall, Sepal number — 5.         -   Sepal shape, typical and observed.—Lanceolate.         -   Sepal apex, typical and observed.—Acute.         -   Sepal base, typical and observed.—Acute.         -   Sepal margin, typical and observed.—Entire.         -   Sepal surface, typical and observed.—Smooth.         -   Sepal color, abaxial and adaxial typical and observed.—146             C.         -   Peduncle.—Glabrous, glaucous, terete.         -   Pedicle color, typical and observed.—Close to 138 B.         -   Pedicle length, typical and observed.—3 cm.         -   Pedicle diameter, typical and observed.—1 mm.         -   Pedicle color, typical and observed.—Close to 138 B.         -   Pedicle surface, typical and observed.—Glaucous, glabrous,             terete.         -   Bracts.—Two pair, opposite, glaucous, glabrous, sessile,             margin entire, broadly obtuse with acute apex; outer pair 3             mm long and 3 mm wide; inner pair 7 mm long and 3 mm wide.         -   Bract color.—Abaxial and adaxial typical and observed — 137             A and B.         -   Androecium.—Absent.         -   Stamens.—Absent.         -   Anthers.—Absent.         -   Pollen color.—Absent.         -   Gynoecium.—         -   Style.—Split in two above the ovary.         -   Pistil.—Glabrous abaxial and adaxial surface, curled in             distal 4 mm.         -   Pistil length.—15 mm, shape — slender, 1 mm diameter, Color             N155 B.         -   Stigma.—Glabrous, about 0.5 mm long and 0.5 mm wide. Color             79 C.         -   Ovary.—Superior, ellipsoid shaped, size — 8 mm long and 3 mm             wide, Color close to 145 B and 150 D.         -   Fertility.—None observed.         -   Fruit.—Capsule, oblong ovoid with rounded base and acute             apex, opening buy 4 teeth, 3 mm long and 2 mm diameter,             color 164 C.         -   Seed.—None observed.         -   Hardiness.—U.S.D.A. hardiness zones 5-10.         -   Disease resistance.—Resistance to diseases common to             Dianthus has not been observed on plants grown under nursery             conditions.         -   Pest resistance.—Resistance to pests common to Dianthus has             not been observed on plants grown under nursery conditions. 

We claim:
 1. A new, distinct Dianthus plant as illustrated and described, characterized by magenta pink flowers on short stems, above mat forming and compact silvered foliage. 